2026 AIME I Problem 6

Attempt Problem 6 of the 2026 AIME I below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2026 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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6.

The product of all positive real numbers xx satisfying the equation xlog⁡2026x20=26x\sqrt[20]{x^{\log_{2026} x}} = 26x is an integer P.P. Find the number of positive integer divisors of P.P.

Answer: 441
Concepts:logarithmquadraticVieta’s Formulasfactor counting
Difficulty rating: 2300
Small Hint:

Set t=log⁡2026xt = \log_{2026} x and take log⁡2026\log_{2026} of both sides to get a quadratic in tt

Big Hint:

The two roots satisfy t1+t2=20,t_1 + t_2 = 20, so the product of the solutions xx is 20262026 raised to that power; factor 20262026

Solution:

Let t=log⁡2026x.t = \log_{2026} x. Taking log⁡2026\log_{2026} of both sides of xlog⁡2026x20=26xx^{\frac{\log_{2026} x}{20}} = 26x gives t220=log⁡202626+t,\frac{t^2}{20} = \log_{2026} 26 + t, that is t2−20t−20log⁡202626=0.t^2 - 20t - 20\log_{2026} 26 = 0. The discriminant 400+80log⁡202626400 + 80\log_{2026} 26 is positive, so there are two real roots t1,t2,t_1, t_2, each giving a valid positive solution x=2026t.x = 2026^{t}.

By Vieta’s formulas t1+t2=20,t_1 + t_2 = 20, so the product of the solutions is 2026t1⋅2026t2=202620.2026^{t_1} \cdot 2026^{t_2} = 2026^{20}. Since 2026=2⋅10132026 = 2 \cdot 1013 and 10131013 is prime, P=220⋅101320P = 2^{20} \cdot 1013^{20} has 21⋅21=44121 \cdot 21 = 441 positive divisors.

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